United States Patent
[151
Hiyama
[451 Jan. 25, 1972
[54] ‘AUTOMATIC RHYTHM sounn
DEVICE WITH VOLUME
3,255,292
6/1966
358,068
12/1967
Cam
3,482,027
12/1969
Okarlloto et al. . . . .
3,549,774 12/1970
[72]
Inventor:
Ryu Hiyama, Hamamatsu, Japan
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[73] AS51811“: Nippon Gllkkl‘ Sq“ Kabllshiki Katha’
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Hamamatsu-shl, shlluoka-kel'h Japan ,
Ma .15 1971
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Japan ................................. ..45/24808
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Bunger ................................. ..84/l.03
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Assistant Examiner-Ulysses Weldon
ABSTRACT
triggers each individual rhythm sound source so as to con
Smute’ by the combination of the outputs of the triggered
sources, a predetermined‘ rhythm sound performance. The
outputs of the rhythm sound sources are supplied to a sound
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References Cited
~ volume presetting circuit the respective inputs of which are
selectively connected . to respective rhythm output lines
through resistors having predetermined values in accordance
with the kinds of the rhythms to be played, and the output
lines are connected to an output terminal through respective
rhythm selector switches to be closed upon selection of the
UNITED STATES PATENTS
kind Of rhythm performances.
3,207,835
9/1965
‘Holman et al. ....................... ..84/1.03
3,247,307
4/1966
Campbell ................ .. l
5 Claims, 7 Drawing Figures
RHYTHM
RHYTHM
SOUND
SOUND
SOURCE
SOURCE
\
RHYTHM
---- " SOUND
SOURCE
\
121 l_. |__J 122
S11
RHYTHM
PATTERN
PULSE
GENERATOR
.......... ..84/l.03
Device includes a rhythm pattern pulse generator to generate
a set of rhythm pattern pulses selected from plural sets of
rhythm patterns. Each rhythm pattern pulse of the selected set
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Attorney-Kemon, Palmer & Estabrook
[52] US. Cl ................................ 7.84/ 1.03, 84/1.l89i
[51]
[58]
_
[57]
Foreign Application Priority Data 7
Mar. 16, 1970
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Park ...................
3,637,914
SOUND VOLUME
PRESETTING CIRCUIT
(IN MATRIX)
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AUTOMATIC RHYTHM SOUND PRODUCING DEVICE
WITH VOLUME CONTROL
There are also provided a plurality of rhythm sound sources
12,, 122 . . . 12,,. The individual rhythm sound sources 12, to
12,, are so designed as to be triggered by the respective output
rhythm pattern pulses derived from the generator 11 con
This invention relates to an automatic rhythm sound 5 stituting the set selected by a player before performance and
to enable from the triggered source rhythm sounds such as the
producing device and more particularly to an automatic
desired percussion (e.g., cymbals, maracas, drum, etc.)
rhythm sound producing device so improved as to automati
sounds to be played in exact timing with the selected one from
cally determine the volume of each rhythm sound in ac
various tempos of rhythms, for example, the waltz, march,
cordance with the selected kind of rhythm.
rock beat, rumba, tango, samba and bossa nova. The rhythm
The rhythm sounds played on natural rhythm instruments
sound derived from the selected one of the rhythm sound
are dilferent in volume according to the kind of rhythm to be
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
sources 12, to 12,, is conducted through a sound volume
played.
presetting circuit 13 having the hereinunder described ar
However, the prior art automatic rhythm sound producing
device, such as electronic rhythm device, is so designed as to
rangement so as to be adjusted to a proper volume in response
play all rhythm sounds with the same volume irrespective of
the kinds of rhythms to be played, resulting in an undesirable
unbalance among the individual rhythm sounds produced and
to the kind of rhythm sound thus obtained, and thereafter
drawn out of a common output terminal 15 through the cor
responding one of a plurality of selector switches 14,, 14, . . .
14,, of normally open type which are selectively closed
together with the aforementioned rhythm selector in the
rhythm pattern pulse generator in advance by a player before
in consequence an unnatural performance.
It is, therefore, an object of the present invention to provide
an automatic rhythm sound producing device capable of play
ing rhythm sounds with properly different volumes according
performance.
to the selected kind of the rhythm, thereby enabling rhythm
performances closely resembling those on natural rhythm in
FIG. 2 is the concrete circuit arrangement 131 apparently
formed in matrix type of the volume presetting circuit of FIG.
struments.
25
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
According to an aspect of this invention, there is provided
an automatic rhythm sound producing device which com
1. Namely, plural column lines of the circuit 131 selected as,
for example, output lines 21,, 212, 21;, . . . such as for the
waltz, march, rock beat, etc., are connected to the common
output terminal 15 through the corresponding selector
switches 14,, 14,, 143 . . . and may be grounded through
rhythm pattern pulses selected from plural sets of rhythm pat
respective load resistors R provided if required. On the other
hand, plural row lines of the volume presetting circuit 131
terns, a plurality of rhythm sound sources each for being trig
gered by each rhythm pattern pulse of the selected set so as to
the bass drum, cymbals, maracas, etc., are connected to the
prises a rhythm pattern pulse generator for generating a set of
constitute, by the combination of the outputs of the triggered
selected as rhythm sound input lines 22,, 222, 22a . . . such as
corresponding output lines 21,, 212', 21;, . . . in predetermined
sources, a predetermined rhythm sound performance, and a 35 combinations through the corresponding individual resistors
R,, R2, R,,, R,,, R5, R,,, R,,, R,,, R,, . . . having predetermined
sound volume presetting circuit whose respective inputs
values in accordance with the kinds of the rhythms to be
receiving the corresponding outputs of the rhythm sound
played.
sources are connected to respective rhythm output lines
The character VR of FIG. 1 denotes an ordinary volume
through resistors having predetermined values in accordance
controller
provided properly to adjust the volume of rhythm
40
with the kind of the rhythms to be played, the output lines
sounds drawn out of the common output terminal 15.
being connected to an output terminal through respective
The concrete circuit arrangement including the rhythm pat
rhythm selector switches to be closed upon selection of the
tern
pulse generator 11 and rhythm sound sources 12, to 12,,
kind of rhythm performances.
are not shown in detail in FIG. 1, but those are conventional
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWING
FIG. 1 is a schematic circuit diagram of an automatic
rhythm sound producing device according to an embodiment
of this invention;
45 just as set forth in “Automatic Rhythm Device” invented by
Richard H. Cambell, Jr., US. Pat. No. 3,358,068 (Ser. No.
378,365).
The automatic rhythm sound producing device is capable of
playing rhythm sounds with properly different volumes ac
FIG. 2 represents the concrete arrangement of a sound 50 cording to the kind of the selected rhythm, resulting in
volume presetting circuit used in FIG. 1;
FIG. 3 is a modi?cation of the volume presetting circuit of
FIG. 2;
FIGS. 4A to 4C illustrate the preferred volume ratios of
enabling rhythm performances closely resembling those of
natural rhythm instruments.
It will be apparent that said each of resistors R,, R,, R,,, R,,
R,,, R6, R,, R,,, R9, . . . may be formed by a variable type as
several rhythm sounds obtained by passing them through the 55 shown in FIG. 3.
sound volume presetting circuit of the invention; and
FIG. 5 shows a schematic circuit diagram of an automatic
rhythm sound producing device according to another embodi
FIGS. 4A to 4C illustrate the typical volume ratios of the
rhythm sounds played in timing with the desired rhythm pat
terns by an automatic rhythm sound producing device of
ment of the invention, including another concrete arrange
FIGS. 1 and 2 or 3. Where there are to be played the rhythm
ment of the sound volume presetting circuit.
60 sounds of the bass drum, cymbals and maracas in timing with
the waltz tempo, the volume ratio of said sounds is preferred
DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS
to be about l:0.5:0.8 as shown in FIG. 4A. To this end, it is ad
visable to make the design values of the corresponding re
Referring now to FIG. 1, a rhythm pattern pulse generator
11 including a rhythm pattern pulse encoder and a rhythm
sistors R,, R2 and R,, of FIG. 2 or 3 match the aforementioned
selector (both being of conventional types and not shown) has 65 volume ratios. Similarly where there are to be played the
rhythm sounds of the bass drum, cymbals and snare drum in
a plurality of output terminals corresponding to plural rhythm
timing with the march tempo, it is preferred that the cor
instruments to be played in accordance with the rhythm kinds
responding resistors R,, R5 and R,, of FIG. 2 or 3 be so
such as the waltz, march, rock beat, rumba, tango, samba and
bossa nova and is so designed as to generate a set of rhythm
pattern pulses selected by a player during performance, from
the predetermined ones of the output terminals. In this case,
each of the rhythm pattern pulses derived from the generator
designed as to have such values as will give the volume ratio of
about I:I:0.8 as shown in FIG. 4B. And where there are to be
given forth the rhythm sounds of the bass drum, cymbals and
snare drum in timing with the rock beat tempo, it is desired
that the corresponding resistors R7, R8 and R,, of FIG. 2 or 3 be
11 consists of a train of the timing pulses encoded for each
so designed to have such values as well match the volume ratio
rhythm sound from a predetermined repetitive basic rhythm
75 of about l:0.5:l.5 as indicated in FIG. 4C.
frequency pulse for the device.
3
3,637,914
4
FIG. 5 is a schematic circuit diagram of an automatic
sources, a predetermined rhythm sound performance; and a ’
rhythm sound producing device according to another embodi,
sound volume 91 circuit the respective inputs of which receiv
ing the corresponding outputs of the rhythm sound sources are
connected to respective rhythm output lines through resistors
having predetermined values in accordance with the kind of
the rhythms to be played, the output lines being connected to
an output terminal through respective rhythm selector
ment of this invention. In practice, the output terminals 31,,
312, 31;, . . . of rhythm pattern pulse generator 111 for selec
tively producing the aforementioned various rhythm pattern
pulses are connected to the input terminals 32,, 32,, 32, . . . of
rhythm‘sound sources 211 for generating the aforesaid various
rhythm sounds through the corresponding normally open
switches to be closed upon selection of the kind of rhythm per
formances.
2. The automatic rhythm sound producing device according
to claim 1 wherein said volume presetting circuit is formed in
matrix type either plural column or row lines of which
represent various rhythms and the other plural lines of which
are coupled with the individual outputs of said rhythm sound
sources, said individual resistors being connected between the
respective column and row lines.
switches selectively closed before performance. The output
terminals 34,, 342, 34;, . . . of the rhythm sound sources 211
are connected to the common output terminal 15 through a
series circuit consisting of a sound volume presetting circuit
132 including the corresponding resistors R,, R4, R1, R3, R6, R9
. . . so designed as to have such values as will obtain the afore
mentioned volume ratios with respect to the individual rhythm
sounds as well as the rhythm tempos and the selector switches
3. The automatic rhythm sound producing device according
14,, 142, 143 . . . . corresponding to said resistors.
to claim 1 wherein said volume presetting circuit is so
designed as to directly connect the individual resistors to the
Obviously, the embodiment of FIG. 5 can be operated in the
same manner and with the same result as the preceding em
bodiments.
What I claim is:
20 corresponding output lines of said rhythm sound sources in
predetermined combinations.
4. The automatic rhythm sound producing device according
1. An automatic rhythm sound producing device comprising
to claim 1 wherein said individual resistors included in the
volume presetting circuit are a variable type.
a rhythm pattern pulse generator for generating a set of
rhythm pattern pulses selected from plural sets of rhythm pat
terns corresponding to a train of the combination pulses in 25
a normally open type selectively closed upon rhythm selection
plurality of rhythm sound sources each for being triggered by
performances.
each rhythm pattern pulse of the selected set so as to con
stitute, by the combination of the outputs of the triggered
5. The automatic rhythm sound producing device according
to claim 1 wherein said each rhythm selector switch consists of
tempos of a repetitive basic rhythm frequency for the device; a
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